Bob Armstrong (Texas politician)
Encyclopedia
Robert Landis "Bob" Armstrong served as a Democratic
member of the Texas House of Representatives
from 1963 to 1970, Commissioner of the General Land Office from 1970 to 1982, and member of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission from 1985 to 1991. He was appointed Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management at the U.S. Department of the Interior by President Bill Clinton
from 1993 to 1998.
He received his B.A. and L.L.B. from the University of Texas and served as an ensign
in the U.S. Navy.
including Austin
. He served in the capacity until 1970, when he ran for and was elected the Commissioner of the General Land Office. He was the Texas Land Commissioner for 3 terms until 1982.
In 1982, Armstrong ran for the Democratic nomination for Governor against Attorney General Mark White
and lost, coming in third in the primary. In 1985, Governor White appointed his former opponent, Armstrong, a member of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.
President Bill Clinton nominated Armstrong to serve as Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management at the U.S. Department of the Interior. Armstrong resigned in 1998.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
from 1963 to 1970, Commissioner of the General Land Office from 1970 to 1982, and member of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission from 1985 to 1991. He was appointed Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management at the U.S. Department of the Interior by President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
from 1993 to 1998.
Early years
Bob Armstrong, the son of Robert C. and Louise Landis Armstrong, was born on November 7, 1932. He married Linda Lee Aaker.He received his B.A. and L.L.B. from the University of Texas and served as an ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
in the U.S. Navy.
Political career
In 1962, Bob Armstrong ran for and was elected to the Texas House of Representatives representing part of Travis CountyTravis County, Texas
As of 2009, the U.S. census estimates there were 1,026,158 people, 320,766 households, and 183,798 families residing in the county. The population density was 821 people per square mile . There were 335,881 housing units at an average density of 340 per square mile...
including Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. He served in the capacity until 1970, when he ran for and was elected the Commissioner of the General Land Office. He was the Texas Land Commissioner for 3 terms until 1982.
In 1982, Armstrong ran for the Democratic nomination for Governor against Attorney General Mark White
Mark White
Mark Wells White is an American lawyer, who served as the 43rd Governor of Texas from January 18,1983-January 20,1987.-Biography:...
and lost, coming in third in the primary. In 1985, Governor White appointed his former opponent, Armstrong, a member of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.
President Bill Clinton nominated Armstrong to serve as Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management at the U.S. Department of the Interior. Armstrong resigned in 1998.